Supporting and transporting means for web or sheet material in nozzle driers



Jan. 15, 1957 J. DUNGLER 2,777,213

SUPPORTING AND TRANSPORTING MEANS FOR WEB OR SHEET MATERIAL IN NOZZLEDRIERS Filed June 25, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I "VF/V r0? .9 UL IE'N film42154 JVMMJJQ Jan. 15, 1957 J. DUNGLER 2,777,213

SUPPORTING AND TRANSPORTING MEANS FOR was 0R SHEET MATERIAL IN NOZZLEDRIERS Filed June 25, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INKF/V 727 6 QuzJ/s/v Don625g Jan. 15, 1957 J, DUNGLER 2,777,213

SUPPORTING AND TRANSPORTING MEANS FOR WEB 0R SHEET MATERIAL IN NOZZLEDRIERS Filed June 25, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 OOOGOO 2 9 4 17V VE/VTQ/Q:

.70.; IF Dun 15 United States Patent SUPPORTING AND TRANSPORTING MEANSFOR 5 WEB 0R SHEET MATERIAL IN NOZZLE DRIERS Julien Dungler, Basel,Switzerland Application June 25, 1953, Serial No. 364,125

Claims priority, application France July 2, 1952 7 Claims. (Cl. 34-460)consecutive blowing nozzles in order to expose the product I undertreatment to and approach the extreme ends of the nozzles.

This arrangement, however, has certain disadvantages. The supportingrollers partially block the discharge channels and reduce the output ofthe machine. It has been attempted to remedy this inconvenience, atleast in part, by reducing the diameter of these rollers. This reductionin diameter however, entails an increase in the number of revolutionsneeded to reach a given conveying speed as well as causes the risk thatthe rollers are subjected to bending in machines of considerable width.Further, the reduction in diameter reduces the area of the surfaces ofcontact and so increases the risk that the flow of discharge fluiddirected transversely to the product under treatment may cause theproduct to deviate laterally from its path of movement.

It has been attempted to prevent this lateral deviation by arranging therollers to face a nozzle so that the jets press the product against theroller, but in this case the presence of the roller hinders the passageof the treatment fluid through the product being treated which tends toreduce the efliciency of the treatment.

To remedy the above mentioned disadvantages, the invention contemplatesan improved structure for the supporting and conveying rollers which areperforated and located in the discharge channels separating twoconsecutive blowing nozzles, and which assume the largest diameterattainable within the respective available space in the dischargechannel.

According to another characteristic of invention, the discharge channelcontains a single roller, the diameter for which is such that itoccupies substantially the entire cross section of the dischargechannel.

According to a further characteristic of the invention, the blowingnozzles or devices located on both sides of the product under treatmentwhen the two surfaces of said product are to be simultaneously treated,are disposed in staggered relation one to another in such a way that oneof the blowing nozzles of the assembly associated with one of theproduct surfaces is located opposite. to a discharge channel of theassembly associated with the other product surface, this channelcontaining the rollers according to the invention.

According to another feature of the invention, the length of the rollerssubstantially exceeds the length of the blowing nozzles, that is to say,the width of the product being treated. 7

According to still another feature of the invention, the

rollers include lateral side-plates joined together by individuallongitudinal elements, shaped and spaced in a manner as will ensureappropriate guidance of the product being treated without hindering theflow of the treatment fluid.

According to still a further feature of the invention, the aforesaidlongitudinal elements of the rollers are formed of suitably bent stripsof sheet metal.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the rollers areprovided with lateral side-plates and a perforated envelope formed oflattice work, of perforated sheet metal or in any other suitable manner.

According to still another characteristic of the invention, thelongitudinal elements constituting the rollers are braced at pointsintermediate the length of the rollers.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention Figure 4 is asection through Fig. 3 taken on line IV--IV of Fig- 3.

Figures 1 and 2 diagrammatically show a part of a treatment machineintended for treating the web material 1, such as of fabric or the like,by the blowing nozzles 2 and 3 located on both sides of the product 1for treatment.

The individual blowing nozzles 2 and 3 respectively disposedtransversely in relation to the path of the product being treated, areseparated by discharge channels 2a and 3a respectively, which receivethe treatment fluid projected by the nozzles 2 and 3 for impingementonto the product 1 after said fluid has acted on the latter, thedischarge of such spent fluid stream being effectuated transversely inrelation to the path of movement of the treated product 1.

The treated product 1 is supported and conveyed during its passagethrough the machine by rollers, shown in Fig. 1 at 4, 5 and 6 in threedifferent forms.

the roller 5 is located in the discharge channel 3a, all the rollers 4,5 and 6 being constructed to permit passage of treatment fluidtherethrough.

According to the invention, these rollers have such a diameter that theypractically occupy the entire cross section of the discharge channel inwhich they are located. It is obvious that the rollers must beconstructed in a way as not to hinder the discharge of the treatmentfluid. To

this end the rollers shown at 4 comprise lateral side-plates- 7 mountedon a rotatable shaft 8 and longitudinally arranged rods 9 mounted withtheir ends in said sideplates 7. Bracing elements, such as hoops 10, areprovided at intermediate locations lengthwise of the rollers to preventany distortion of the latter.

To enable the treatment fluid to escape laterally from the dischargechannels, the length of the rollers is substantially greater than thelength of the blowing nozzles 2 and 3, that is to say, than the width ofthe treated product 1, as appears clearly from Fig. 2 by the relativeposition of a side-plate 7 of the roller and the end wall ll'of nozzle2.

Another form of construction of a roller according to the invention isrepresented atS, where the roller is composedof lateral rims 12 joinedto the shaft 14 by means of spokes or arms 13, the rims 12 beingconnected by longitudinal strips 15 arranged edgewise. Bracing ele:-

ments may also be provided at intermediate locations of,

One of the rollers 4 is located in the discharge channel 2a, whereas 3the "length ofthe rollers; the design of the lateral elements formingrims further facilitates the flow of the treatment fluid in axialdirection.

Inthe-form of a" roller construction shown 'at i'the lateral or endelements are also 'constituted by jams 12, joined to -the shaft 14byine'ans of arms 13, butthe longitudinal elements joining the rims 12are made-from metal strips 16 folded into v for mwith theapicesdi'rected outwardly toward the roller'periphery The rollersdescribedabove have the following advantages:

"A's appears from Fig. 1; the treated product l is guided a't amult'iplicity of places which are 'very close' together and spread overthe entire length of the 'path described by the product, which assures-s't'lffici'eitit adherence to preventflateral deviationof theproductfrom its normal pathduringflow of the treatment' flnid. Despite thesenumerous areasof contact with the rollers, the contact surfaces areonlyvery small and form fractions of the total surface'of theproducfbei'ngtreated, so that the latter is traversedpracticallyoverits'eritire width by jets of treatment fluid delivered by'the'blowing nozzles 2"and"3 and although each roller occupies practicallythe whole cross section of a discharge channel which'is defined by aU-shaped wall having opposite wall portions terminating in a throat. Therollers in practice do not hinder the flow of treatment fluid, owingtotheir particular skeleton construction, each roller projecting with arelative minor peripheral portion beyond the end of the respectiveU-shaped wall.

As'it further appears from Fig. l, the rollers according to theinvention are particularly suitable for the treatment'of products inbands or webs whichhave to be conveyed without tension, as is the casewith certain delicate fabrics. In such case, the fabric runs partlycoaxial with the rollers, as the fabric'enters intervals existingbetweenlongitudinal elements 9 constituting the rollersso that thetreatmentfluid "ensures at' the same time the desired transport'and the necessaryadherence for preventing any lateral deviation due to the direction offlow of the fluid. Finally, it should be noted that the large diameterof these rollers allows the speed of rotation necessary for a specifiedspeed of transport, to be substantially reduced.

'By reasonof the adherence obtained and the spacings existing betweenthe projecting; parts of said rollers, it is possible to increase theslackness of the cloth or fabric on the rollers and between the rollerswith a view of augmenting the possibility of shrinkage during drying.

Figures 3 and 4 show twoother forms of'construction- 0f rollersaccording to the "invention. The roller shown at 17 in channel 2 acomprises the lateral sideplates'18,'- mounted on the shaft 19 and thelattice work or trellis 20 which forms the permeable envelope of theroller reinforcing discS 'ZL'being provided to extendinternally-at-'intermediate points of the length of the roller.

In the form of construction shown at 22 (see Fig. 3) the roller inchannel3a comprises the side-plates 23 moiinted'ona shaft 24,* andhaving the en'velope25 of perforated sheet metal.

As it appears from-Figl t; the-lengthof-these rollers is' a'ls'osubstantially greater thanthat of the nozzles 2 and-'3. The advantages"of these rollers are the same as those described in reference to Figs. 1and 2.

'It'isunderstood that the modes of construction described above andshown in the drawings, are given merely bywayof simple, non-limitativeexamples and it is possible to modify in any convenient manner theshape, the nature, "the disposition and the mounting ofthe parts thereofwithoutthereby exceeding the scope of the invention. Moreover, therollers according to the invention can be employed fbr-the'conveyance ofproducts inthe form of bands or' in the form of sheets or plates 'ofan'ykind,

suchas'of fabiicfpaper, cardlsea'rdand the like. In the t'-shouldbementionedthat the whole cross section of a discharge channel.

case-of rollers provided with lateral side-plates joined together bylongitudinal elements, the latter can be of any appropriate nature andcan be constituted by rods, metal wires stretched in any appropriatemanner, thongs or ropes of a non-metallic material but heat-resistant,such as asbestos, certain synthetic rubbers or certain synthetic resins,etc. The bracing elements provided at int'ermedi atelocations of thelength of the rollers can also assume-any suitable form. However, whenthe crosssection of the discharge channel is particularly large, it canreceive several rollers, the diameter of which is always comparativelygreat so as to occupy together practically One end of the rollers can beconnected to the 'suction conduit of a fan or blower feeding the blowingnozzles in order to create a suction in the interior of the rollers.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In supporting and conveying means for producttreating machines havingspaced apart blowing nozzles for delivering fluid against one surface ofa product in the form of webs, bands, and the like; channels spaced fromeach other for the discharge of the fluid delivered fromfsaid nozzlesafter its action on the product, each channel having opposite wallportions, a rotatable shaft in each channel, and a product-supportingskeleton roller on' each shaft provided with a product-supporting sur-'face "and extending with a relatively minor portion. be-

yond the end of the wall defining the channel in which the rspectiveroller is located, each roller being of a diani' e'ter'correspondingsubstantially'to the greatest'distance' between said opposite wallportions of the respective enamel;

2. Supporting and conveying'means for a lengthy producthavingcipposedsurfaces, comprising blowing nozzles spaced from each other andfrom said opposite surfaces site "surfaces of said product,respectively, and disposed intermediate adjacent blowing nozzles,whereby the blowing nozzles adjacent one surface of the product aredisposedopposite the discharge channels arranged adjacent the othersurface of said product, a plurality of rotatable shafts extending insubstantially parallel direction to said blowingnozzles and disposed insaid discharge channels, respectively, and a plurality of supportingrollers for said product rnounted on said shafts and substantiallyconforming to and reaching almost to the confines'of said dischargechannels, respectively, said rollers bein g constructed to permitpassage of a fluid through said rollers.

3. Supporting and conveying means for longitudinally moving material tobe treated through a treatment zone, comprising opposite rows of blowingnozzles extending in transverse direction to the movement of thematerial,

'exhaust channel means each terminating in a throat and positionedintermediate each pair-of nozzles of each row, and roller meansforsupporting said material when moved past said nozzles along a pathdefined by the zbnebouncled'by said nozzles of said opposite rows, saidroller means being positioned within said exhaust channel meansand beingprovided with a foraminous surface extending beyond *the throat of saidexhaust channel means into said path, whereby said material is engagedby said foraminous surface so' that fluid discharged from said nozzleswill impinge upon said material and is thereafter diverted through saidforaminous surface of said roller means into said exhaust channel means,said roller means'being shaped as to substantially completely occupythecrbss-section of the respective exhaust channel means adjacent thethroat thereof.

4. Supporting and conveying means according to claim 3, said rollermeans being of a length suflicient to extend beyond the width of saidexhaust channel means.

5. Supporting and conveying means according to claim 3, said rollermeans including perforated end portions bounding said foraminoussurface.

6. Supporting and conveying means according to claim 5, said endportions including radially extending arms providing openingstherebetween.

7. In supporting and conveying means for producttreating machines havingspaced-apart, transversely extending blowing nozzles for deliveringfluid against one surface of a lengthy product in the form of webs,bands, sheets or plates; a plurality of rotatable shafts extendingparallel to each other and disposed intermediate adjacent nozzles, aproduct-supporting skeleton roller mounted on each shaft, and a U-shapeddischarge channel in which each roller is disposed, each dischargechannel being arranged between and interconnecting adjacent nozzles,each of said channels being provided with an open throat across andbeyond which the respective roller extends to support said product andto provide a passageway through which spent fluid coming from saidproduct may pass to the respective discharge channel, the outer surfaceof each roller approaching the confines of the respective dischargechannel adjacent said open throat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS170,712 Clark Dec. 7, 1875 1,997,984 Swan, III Apr. 16, 1935 2,271,347Runals Jan. 27, 1942 2,301,249 Butterworth et al Nov. 10, 1942 2,439,722Dreisel Apr. 13, 1948

